Why are we doing this??

English is an important language all over the world, especially in China. Now that it is rapidly becoming a superpower, many people need English in order to be a part of this booming growth. This is why English education begins early in China and is treated as a core subject in all schools.

In Rural China, the students are at a natural disadvantage because of the lack of both resources and a competent education system. Students in China are expected to have a solid grasp of the English language by the time college entrance exams come around. The students in large developed cities have access to qualified English teachers. Unfortunately, Baojing's English teachers are not proficient enough in English to effectively teach the language. The consequences are astounding. Every person's future in China depends on whether or not they pass rigorous entrance exams into college. English accounts for roughly a fourth of the exam, students can easily do poorly on the exam if they don't master the material. In the worst case scenario, the student won't be able to perform well enough on the exam, and therefore be faced with the same future as their parents (selling fruit). The reason students are pushed so hard to achieve high marks is that education is the closest guarantee to a secure future.

This is where we come in. I know that it's impossible to teach a whole lot in two weeks, but the importance lies in our intention. These two weeks could be the only time these students have contact with foreigners, so it's crucial to make the most of this time. By helping to reinforce the students' rudimentary foundation of English, we give them something to build off of. Hopefully, they are inspired to focus more on English and genuinely learn it with interest and curiosity. I believe that the best learning environment is one that is charged with enthusiasm. I'm hoping that the hours we spent with the students inside and outside of the class gave them a new outlook on English. In the end, it boils down to cultivating interest in English and providing the students with resources that are otherwise unavailable to them (English textbooks).